And the winner is ...

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The NHL's love-in with Martin Brodeur will continue tomorrow night when he attempts to become the career wins leader with 552 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Brodeur, whose assault on the record book has become one of the feel-good stories of the 2008-09 campaign, needs just three shutouts to tie the late great Terry Sawchuk's career shutout mark of 103. Don't be surprised if he smashes that record, too, by the end of the regular season.

But amidst all this hype, there is one accomplishment Brodeur likely will not achieve this year.

After capturing four of the past five Vezina Trophies as the league's top goaltender, Brodeur will not win the award this year. After missing 50 games earlier in the season because of arm surgery, he simply has not played enough, leaving the race for the Vezina as wide open as it has been in years.

With less than four weeks remaining in the regular season, Boston's Tim Thomas, San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov, Minnesota's Nik Backstrom, the New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, Carolina's Cam Ward and even Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff should leave the voters -- in this case, the 30 GMs -- with a healthy debate. Having said that, don't count out Oakville's Steve Mason, truly the season's Cinderella story.

No goaltender has won both the Vezina and the Calder (top rookie) since Eddie Belfour did it with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991-92. Almost two decades later, Mason, the rookie goalie of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is making a significant bid to repeat that feat.

Mason, a lock for the Calder, entered play yesterday with outstanding numbers including wins (28), goals-against average (2.20) and save percentage (.920). He also leads the league in shutouts with nine.

Mason also deserves consideration for the Hart Trophy as league MVP, although Alex Ovechkin should win that again. Still, if you go by the definition "Most Valuable to his Team," well, the Jackets would not be in playoff contention right now without Mason.

When all is said and done, Mason should get votes for the Calder, Vezina and Hart, an impressive accomplishment in itself.

Here's a rundown on the awards races as the season winds down.

Vezina Trophy

Injuries have pretty much taken Brodeur and Roberto Luongo out of the equation. Kiprusoff is just eight wins away from tying Brodeur's single-season record for victories (48) but his goals against (2.88) is lofty. Lundqvist, Nabokov, Backstrom, Ward and Mason all are having fine seasons.

SUN PICK: Tim Thomas (Bruins). He entered play yesterday dominating the league stats, ranking fourth in wins (30) and first in save percentage (.932) and goals against (2.06). Of course, Thomas gave up five goals yesterday and Mason four, so at that rate, Nabokov and Co. may have a say in the matter down the stretch.

SUN PICK: Alex Ovechkin (Capitals). Easily the best, most dynamic player in the sport.

Norris Trophy

Is this finally the year that Nicklas Lidstrom's stranglehold on the Norris finally ends? Sure, a plus/minus of plus-24 and 48 points in 66 games are compelling arguments for the Red Wings' captain. At the same time, outstanding seasons turned in by teammate Brian Rafalski (53 points), Montreal's Andrei Markov (52 points), Nashville's Shea Weber (18 goals), Chara (16 goals), San Jose's Dan Boyle (48 points), Calgary's Dion Phaneuf (42 points) and the New York Islanders' Mark Streit (49 points) have turned this into a dogfight. Last -- but certainly not least -- is the Caps' Mike Green, whose 24 goals and 60 points are better than the numbers posted by most forwards in the league.

SUN PICK: Zdeno Chara (Bruins). Yes, Green's stats are impressive. But no player has had a bigger impact at both ends of the rink than this 6-foot-9 man-mountain.

SUN PICK: Steve Mason (Jackets). Barring a total collapse, they should start engraving his name on the trophy as we speak.

Selke Trophy

Datsyuk's plus-28 ranks among the league leaders. The Flyers' Richards (plus-26) is the best two-way centre in the league, while the Devils' Parise (plus-28) and the Sharks' Patrick Marleau (plus-20) are enjoying great seasons too.

After capturing this trophy earlier this decade, Alex Mogilny said: "Why would I want to win any award called 'LADY?'" It's not so bad, Alex. Team Canada Olympic head Steve Yzerman won it with the Red Wings and no one ever questioning his manhood.

With so many teams still battling for playoff spots, this one might not be settled until the final day of the regular season. Boston's Claude Julien is a frontrunner, as is Detroit's Mike Babcock and San Jose's Todd McLellan. Calgary's Mike Keenan, New Jersey's Brent Sutter and 2008 recipient Bruce Boudreau also are in the running.

SUN PICK: Peter DeBoer (Panthers). With an asterisk. He must make the playoffs. That would be an outstanding job, given the limited talent on his roster.